Darren Clarke sits in touch of the overnight lead at Firestone as the fourth major of the Champions Tour season kicked off in Ohio. Defending champion Steve Stricker and Duffy Waldorf lead the way after round one with four-under the number to chase on Friday.
Firestone was fighting back on the opening day in Akron and ‘boring’ seemed to be called for as big numbers were flashing up on the scoreboard all afternoon. Clarke mercifully was one of those to keep his errors to a minimum as he negotiated his was around Firestone’s south course.
Starting on the 10th the Dungannon star would keep any damage to a minimum on his outward nine. Two bogeys on the 13th and again on the 17th, both par-4s, were tempered by a shot grabbed back on the 16th, his first par-5 of the day.
Birdie-birdie including his second par-5 today on the 2nd, would start the 2011 Open Champion on his back nine and valuable consistency would follow with seven straight pars on the way home. A one under 69 on this tricky course sees Clarke sit in a tie for 10th, just three of the lead.
That lead is shared by Stricker and his compatriot Duffy Waldorf who’s combined three bogeys on day one goes some way to explain why they sit clear at the top by one. Stricker knows all too well how to play Firestone and his experience showed, two-under after two to kick off his title defence.
One bogey on the par-4 sixth was quickly recovered on the ninth to turn on -2. A blemish free return home with two more birdies for good measure see the defending champ in pole position heading into the second round.
Waldorf also began on the 10th with a birdie, followed by two on the run starting on the par-4 14th. Just the one blot on the copy for his outward nine came on the 18th for the co-leader to turn on -2. It was the same story on his way home, three birdies with a single dropped shot to finish tied with Stricker, one clear of the duo of Richard Green and Kenny Perry on -3.
If Green was the last of the ‘boring’ rounds at the top, four birdies and just the one shot handed back on the 12th, his company tied in second place was not. 63-year-old Kenny Perry started on the 10th and was out of the blocks like the proverbial “scalded cat”. 3-3-2 to start for the nine-time Champions Tour winner, three under after three. Another would come on the par-14th to see the Kentucky man turn clean on -4.
The back nine was more of a challenge, be-it Firestone, mental or physical fatigue. A bogey on the par-4 third was followed up by a charge. Birdie-birdie from the short par-3 fifth saw Perry lead late in the day on the first round. Firestone bit back though with two dropped shots on the following two holes for Perry. Par on his final hole, the par-4 9th sees him one back and right in the hunt as we move into Friday.
Spare a thought for Jose Maria Olazabal who tripped up with a double on the par-4 third today, only to follow with five bogeys on-the-bounce. +8 for Olazabal showing that Firestone has no respect for reputation or history. Olazabal might be wishing there was a cut this week, rather than face the teeth of the south course three more times.
Co-Leader Steve Stricker gave his thoughts on his first day defending his title on Firestone: “Yeah, it is a good start. We had great conditions today, soft conditions,” he said. “Wind was a little bit out of the northwest, which has been different than the practice rounds, but yeah, a good solid start, played well. Had a couple more opportunities I wish I could have taken advantage of, but all in all good day.”
Tied second place after his eventful day, Kenny Perry gave his thoughts on round one: “Yeah, what a way to start this event” he recalled. “When I birdied the first three, I thought, well, man, this might be a special day. It was a good day. I kind of let a few get away there coming down the home stretch, but all in all, if you can shoot 3 under around this joint you’ve got to be happy.
Clarke and Co. head out at 16.23 on Friday off the first looking to keep everything neat and tidy having learned lessons on Thursday. The immensely talented and decorated group of Stricker, Vijay and Goosen head off the first at 15.31, while co-leader, Waldorf takes the role of night watchman in the final grouping at 17.16 on Friday with Tim Herron and Michael Allen.
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